The Markha Valley Trek

The Markha Valley Trek 14 Days

From $1795 USD

Trip URL: www.adventurelink.com/

Photos
Maps

Overview
Itinerary
Nuts & Bolts
Experts
Operator
Email to Friend

Overview

Highlights

Duration: 14 Days
Comfort: 66.6666666666667%
Language: English
Rating: 0%
Trip ID: 62366
Start Location: New Delhi, India
End Location: New Delhi, India

Guaranteed:
Yes
Your Satisfaction is Guaranteed!
1. AdventureLink has carefully handpicked the tour operators in our portfolio to give you the best possible selection and experience
2. AdventureLink does not pay the operator until your trip completes in order to ensure the highest possible standard of care
Primary Activities: Trekking
Other Activities: Local Culture & Cuisine, Historical Sites, Temples & Shrines, sightseeing, Urban Exploration, Monasteries, walking, Camping
Activity Level: Intermediate

In the remote north-western corner of India, the Himalayan region of Ladakh is a truly inspirational destination. Following a beautiful high valley, this superb trek leads through a spectacular mountain world, coloured by green irrigated fields and the red of the monks' robes at the villages and monasteries en route. After acclimatising and sightseeing at the monasteries around the ancient regional capital of Leh, we trek across the Ganda La into the Markha Valley, where the way of life has changed little for centuries. Gradually gaining height on a riverside trail, our highest camp is at 4700 metres on the Nimaling Plain, in the realm of the snow leopard and impressive lammergeier. Returning to the Indus Valley via the Kongmaru La (5100m), we have excellent views of nearby Kang Yatze (6400m) and northwards to the peaks of the Tibetan border. This popular holiday offers a real taste of the magical landscapes of Ladakh.

Additional Information

The group size for this holiday is: 4-16

Optional Single Tent Hire from: $80

Internal Flights: The cost of the internal flights between Delhi and Leh are included in the trip price. To allow us to pay for these flights as soon as the trip is guaranteed, a higher than normal deposit is required for this trip which includes the internal flight payment.

Note: Prices and itineraries shown for holidays departing in 2013 may be subject to change, although we will endeavour to keep any price increases to a minimum. 2013 prices will be confirmed in October 2012.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Delhi: Rendezvous at the group hotel in Delhi. Delhi Airport transfers are provided for those arriving on day 1. KE Land Only package services begin with lunch at the hotel. The afternoon is free for sightseeing or relaxing. Meals included – Lunch and dinner. (L,D)
Day 2: Fly to Leh: After an early breakfast, we return to the airport (this time to the Domestic Terminal) for the early morning internal flight to Leh. The hour long flight is simply spectacular and provides close-up views of the 7000 metre (23,000 foot) massifs of Nun and Kun. Arriving at Leh (3500m / 11,480ft), we drive by jeep to our hotel. The rest of the day is free to either rest in the shade of the hotel courtyard, or for those not phased by their long air journey, there is the option to take a lazy walk into Leh’s colourful bazaar to check out the roadside stalls selling Tibetan artefacts. Flying straight into the high altitude of Leh can take your breath away and it is best to concentrate on acclimatising for the first few days. (B,L,D)
Day 3: Sightseeing in the Indus Valley: A full day’s sightseeing tour. Today we will visit the impressive monasteries at Shey and Thikse. These monasteries occupy elevated sites and offer remarkable views across the Indus Valley. Visiting Leh’s monasteries always involves climbing up and down long flights of stairs which is all good for our acclimatisation. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Drive to the Khardung La: Today, we further our acclimatisation with a jeep drive up to the 5380 metre (17,650 foot) Khardung La, one of the world’s highest road passes. This high pass in the mountains to the north of Leh leads into the Nubra Valley, which has until recently been closed to foreign visitors. The 2000 metre (6500 foot) climb to the pass provides panoramic views of the Zanskar Range beyond the Indus Valley, with Stok Kangri standing out prominently as one of the higher peaks in the range. After taking tea at the pass, gasping in the thin atmosphere, we return to our hotel in Leh. (B,L,D)
Day 5: First day’s trek, to Rumbak: We set off on the drive to the start of our trek. After just 15 minutes, we arrive at Spituk Monastery and take the opportunity for a quick look around. We then continue our drive to Lato, which takes a further hour or so. Here, we begin trekking. A fairly easy 3 to 4-hour walk takes us away from the Indus and through the Jingchan Gorge to our overnight camp near Rumbak (3800m / 12,467ft). The trek crew will have made an early start and our camp will be ready for us. This area is also famous for blue sheep, snow leopards, Tibetan wolves, wild dogs and red fox. The evening can be spent visiting the village.
Day 6: Trek to the foot of the Ganda La: Our trek continues easily to the lovely little settlement of Yurutse. We then follow a well defined path along the mountainside to a small valley and a campsite at the base of the Ganda La. Taking care not to gain height too quickly, today’s walk is short and we arrive at camp by lunchtime. Altitude at camp 4380 metres / 14,370 feet. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Cross the Ganda La to Skiu: We follow the path up the mountainside to the top of Ganda La (4900m / 16,076 ft). This prayer-flagged summit affords excellent views of the Stok range of mountains. A long but easy descent to Shingo, looking out for marmots as we go. Beyond the hamlet of Shingo, the walk passes through a wonderful gorge with quite luxuriant stands of willow on the stream-bed. Reaching the Markha River at the village of Skiu after a total day’s walk of around 5 hours, we set up camp amongst irrigated fields and poplar trees. There is a small monastery in Skiu and a derelict fortress/monastery on the cliff above our riverside camp. (B,L,D)
Day 8: Trek to Markha Village: Crossing and recrossing the Markha stream, we make a long day’s walk of around 8 hours to the 30 or 40 houses of Markha Village. The trail passes through quite lush vegetation at the riverside, whilst the upper valley-slopes are uniformly brown and dry. There are bridges at many of the more difficult crossing places. En route we pass several more derelict monasteries, which are often quite difficult to pick out, high on the valley sides. There are also a number of well maintained chortens and prayer walls and at least one good example of a wolf trap. During the winter, wolves and snow leopards visit these high valleys. Becoming bold on account of their hunger, they descend to the villages and prey on domestic animals. The local form of wolf trap is a stone enclosure with overhanging sides, into which is placed live or dead animals baits. If a wolf jumps into the enclosure to eat the bait, it is unable to escape and is stoned to death by the local people. We also pass a couple of isolated houses, one of which is occupied by an old lady who still wears the traditional Ladakhi headdress known as a peraq. On a hill to the north of Markha there is a small gompa. The resident monk will be happy to show you the ancient wall paintings and festival masks which are contained within this lovely old monastery - reputedly one of the oldest in Ladakh. We camp at Markha, an altitude of 3700 metres (12,140 feet). (B,L,D)
Day 9: To the village of Thachungste: We continue above Markha Village, trekking eastwards, deeper into the Markha Valley, to a good camping place at Thachungste. During today’s walk we pass more impressive monasteries, some ruined and some intact, a testament to the fact that this valley was once more populous than it is today. In this high valley we are likely to see small herds of blue sheep (bharal) which often come right down to the river to graze. After 1½ hours of trekking we pass through Hangkar village, where high on a rocky spur is another remarkable ruined monastery. A further 2 – 3 hours brings us to our overnight stop at Thachungste. (B,L,D)
Day 10: Trek up onto the Nimaling Plain: Leaving Hangkar, we now have a good view of a prominent snow peak at the head of the valley. This is Kang Yatze, a 6400 metre (21,000 feet) high mountain which has a subsidiary summit at around 6100 metres (20,000 feet) which is very straightforward and often climbed as a trekking peak in its own right. Passing another well maintained wolf pit, we cross the Markha stream on the last bridge that we will see and start a steeper climb up towards the high plains known as Nimaling. Today we will climb from around 4000 metres (13,120 feet) to a camp at 4600 metres (15,100 feet) and we will feel the effects of the altitude. The scenery opens out as we traverse around to the north side of Kang Yatze and look out for the pass which we must cross to return us to the Indus Valley. The Kongmaru La is not immediately apparent from our camp beside the frozen upper reaches of the Markha stream. As well as herds of blue sheep, huge golden marmots and large hares, the other impressive wildlife species hereabouts are immense birds of prey, including lammergeiers (bearded vultures - the biggest of the Himalayan raptors) and golden eagles. The sight of a lammergeier drifting towards you on motionless wings, passing just overhead, unconcerned by your presence, is simply unforgettable. (B,L,D)
Day 11: Cross the Kongmaru La to Chuskyurmo: We trek up to the Kongmaru La (5100m / 16,732ft) on a well marked trail which zig-zags across scree for the final 250 metres (800 feet) to the pass - 2 hours ascent. From the pass there are views north to the hills of the eastern Karakoram and China, whilst the southern panorama is dominated by the shapely Kang Yatze. Descending, we enter a narrow gorge, which presents wonderfully contorted rock formations, pillars and buttresses, some of them remarkable colours, reds through to green and greys. The best trail crosses from one side of the valley to the other time and time again - and we are obliged to cross the growing stream many times. Except for a small level area just beyond the pass, the first reasonable camping place is at Chuskyurmo at 4000 metres (13,100 feet). (B,L,D)
Day 12: Trek to the roadhead, drive to Leh: From Chuskyurmo, we make an easy descent of 3½ - 4 hours to reach the road at Shang Sumdo. Meeting our vehicles, we now drive to the monastery at Hemis. This is the most powerful of the monasteries in the vicinity of Leh, and belongs to the Kagyupa Buddhist sect. Large areas of the surrounding farmland are controlled by the monastery. After looking around the monastery, we continue our drive back to Leh. We check in to our hotel and look forward to a celebratory evening meal. (B,L,D)
Day 13: Fly to Delhi: Today we take the short and spectacular flight southwards across the main chain of the Indian Himalaya to Delhi. Transfer to the group hotel for some well earned R&R. (B,L,D)
Day 14: Depart Delhi: KE Land Only package services end after breakfast at the hotel. Complimentary airport transfers are provided on this day. (B)

Nuts & Bolts

Trip Includes

A professional English-speaking local leader
Delhi Airport transfers (on group arrival and departure days only)
Internal flights
All land transport involved in the itinerary
Hotel accommodation in Delhi and Leh and camping on trek
All meals throughout the trip
Full trekking service including food and all equipment (excluding personal equipment)

Trip Excludes

Travel insurance
Delhi Airport transfers (other than on group arrival and departure days)
Indian Visa
Tips for trek staff
Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc.

Trip ID#: 62366

CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

Operator

For the specifics on this tour operator, please contact AdventureLink directly.

Can't find the right trip? Design your own!

Our tour operators are happy to assist you in creating just the right trip; fill out the form below and we'll give you a custom quote.

First Name

Last Name

Email address

Telephone number

Where would you like to go?

When would you like to go? month / day / year

How long do you want to go for?

How many people are going?

Is anyone in your party under 18? Yes No

If "Yes", please list their ages

What activities do you want to do?

Enter your price range (From and To price. Provide a departure city if you'd like to include airfare in your quote.)

If you don't want to indicate a price range, tell us how you like to travel

Best available accommodation Highest quality – not necessarily the most expensive Moderate Budget

Please provide us with any additional information you feel will help us design your trip.